Capuchin Church, Vienna

The Church of Saint Mary of the Angels is a Roman Catholic church of the Capuchin Order on the Neuer Markt in the 1st district of Vienna Inner City. She is especially known for her tomb, which served for centuries as a grave laying of the dynasty of the Habsburgs: the Capuchin Crypt.

History and Architecture

Church and Crypt were in 1618 by Empress Anna ( 1585-1618 ), wife of Emperor Matthias ( 1557-1619 ) donated his will. Under Ferdinand II (1578-1637) took place on September 8, 1622 the cornerstone was laid at the former flour market or in the Mehlgrube. Due to the Thirty Years' War, the work, and the Church could only be completed in 1632 delayed.

The new, simply decorated church with its gabled facade stood out clearly from the surrounding nobility and town houses. Over time, the church was subject to numerous modifications, the most striking is the porch of 1760th In the years 1934 to 1936 the façade was then reconstructed according to historical images and provided with a fresco by Hans Fischer. From this period dates the monument of Marco d' Aviano of the hand of the Viennese sculptor Hans wall.

When you step inside the church, we find a simple, single-aisled hall church with a barrel vault in front of him. On either side is ever added a chapel to the nave - left the imperial chapel, on the right Pietàkapelle. The latter houses the grave of Marco d' Aviano. The marble altar of the Capuchin church dates from Peter Strudel, the paintings were largely produced by Norbert Baumgartner. A basic continuous renovation of the interior took place in 1976.

Left and right of the entrance on the side wall there are several memorial plaques, including for the Kuk Galician Uhlans Regiment No. 13

Inside the church, the right of the entrance, also one of the outlets is the Capuchin Crypt.

The deceased in July 2011 last Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne, Otto von Habsburg was laid out along with his wife Regina of Saxe- Meiningen at the funeral in a side chapel of the church.